Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will believe another Champions League trophy is possible after Demba Ba comes in from the cold

Tuesday 8 April 2014 21:10 BST

For all the multi-millionaires on show at Stamford Bridge, it took one ugly swing of a left foot from Chelsea’s forgotten man Demba Ba to fire Chelsea into the Champions League semi-finals.

Even by Chelsea’s remarkable standards in Europe over the past decade, this was dramatic stuff, but the fact remains the Blues have somehow reached the last four yet again.

There are better teams in the competition, Paris Saint Germain may count themselves as one of them, yet no-one can match the west Londonders when it comes to sheer grit and determination.

Everything seemed to be against them in this tie. From the shambolic defending which gifted PSG a 3-1 advantage in the first leg to the remarkable statistics that pointed to a mission impossible.

Only two teams had ever come back from a two-goal deficit in the Champions League, Chelsea being the last when they overcame Napoli in the last 16 in 2012.

It wasn’t just that though. The French champions came into the game on the back of 11 successive victories and had failed to score just once in 46 matches this season.

Surely Chelsea, who admittedly boasted an impressive record of their own with eight home games without conceding a goal, couldn’t keep out Edinson Cavani and Co.

Even if they kept the visitors scoreless, Chelsea had to find the net at least twice, but with a half-fit Samuel Eto’o starting up front, star man Eden Hazard limping off after just 18 minutes, and Andre Schurrle and Oscar hitting the woodwork, it seemed fortune would be against them.

Chelsea v PSG player ratings

Chelsea v PSG player ratings

1/28
Petr Cech - 7

Hardly tested for most of the evening, the Chelsea stopper came up with the goods late on as he saved at his near post from Marquinhos and punched clear a number of corners.

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2/28
Branislav Ivanovic - 7

Produced a tireless performance as he raided up the right always giving his side an option – did his best to slow down PSG counter attacks.

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3/28
Gary Cahill - 8

Defended PSG’s regular attempts to counter attack well as he was often outnumbered with Ivanovic getting forward at every opportunity – made a hash of a great opportunity to put Chelsea 2-0 up before half time but drove his side on in the crucial final stages.

4/28
John Terry - 7

A relatively quiet night for the captain as he did what was asked of him but was outshone – not for the first time this season – by his younger central defensive partner.

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5/28
Cesar Azpilicueta - 8

Highly impressive at both ends of the pitch with another typically energetic performance – unsurprisingly needed treatment for cramp in the closing stages.

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6/28
David Luiz - 7

Failed to impose himself on the match in the manner he has done so in the past but got the all-important flick on for Chelsea’s opener and covered a lot of ground as others tired in the latter stages.

7/28
Frank Lampard - 6

Started slowly as he gave away the ball a few times but improved as the game went on before being replaced for a more attacking option soon after the hour mark.

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8/28
Willian - 8

The increasingly popular Brazilian further endeared himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful as he incessantly tracked back to win the ball and dropped deep when the Blues did have possession as he looked to drive his side forward.

9/28
Oscar - 7

Created an overload on the left throughout the first half as he helped Hazard and then Schurrle to worry the PSG defence – unlucky to see his fine free kick cannon into the cross bar.

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10/28
Eden Hazard - 5

Marked out of the game for the opening quarter of an hour before going with a hamstring injury.

11/28
Samuel Eto'o - 6

Quiet return from injury – will hope to be back up to full speed in time for the semi-finals.

12/28
Andre Schurrle - 8

Calmly converted Chelsea’s first real sight of goal having replaced the injured Hazard after 18 minutes - fearlessly ran at the PSG defence and was unlucky not to add a second with a thumping second half strike against the cross bar

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13/28
Demba Ba - 7

Brought on ahead of Fernando Torres – the forgotten man took his big chance and became Chelsea’s hero on the night as he scuffed home the winner from six yards.

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14/28
Fernando Torres - 5

Had little impact after being brought on for the final ten minutes having apparently slipped behind Ba in the pecking order.

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15/28
Salvatore Sirigu - 6

Little the Italian number two could do about either of Chelsea’s goals – saved well from a deflected Lampard free kick in the first half.

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16/28
Christophe Jallet - 7

Combatted Chelsea’s attempts to attack him at right back and provided an option for his side on the counter attack.

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17/28
Alex - 7

Few at Stamford Bridge would have been surprised by the former Chelsea man’s solid display.

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18/28
Thiago Silva - 7

The captain led his side bravely as he battled through a couple of nasty blows to last the 90 minutes – unfortunate to be on the losing side over the two legs.

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19/28
Maxwell - 5

The least convincing of the PSG back four – allowed Chelsea to get in behind him too many times and lost Ba for the late winner.

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20/28
Thiago Motta - 6

Central to his side’s ability to control the game early on – faded as Chelsea grew in stature.

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21/28
Marco Verratti - 5

A weak link in the first half as he made a number of rash challenges in and around his side’s penalty area – unsurprisingly withdrawn soon after the break.

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22/28
Blaise Matuidi - 6

Injected some much needed energy into the PSG midfield as he did his best to limit his opponent’s time on the ball.

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23/28
Lucas Moura - 7

Scared the life out of Chelsea as he drifted off the left wing to take on defenders at will, often cruising past them – definitely the pick of PSG’s attackers.

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24/28
Edinson Cavani - 6

With the usual leader of the line Zlatan Ibrahimovic out injured, the Uruguayan failed to live up to his billing as one of the world’s elite forwards as he had a quiet night before blowing a couple of late opportunities to end the tie.

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25/28
Ezequiel Lavezzi - 6

Unable to reproduce his stunning display from the first leg – rarely threatened Chelsea before making way for Javier Pastore as PSG looked to tighten their grip on the tie with 20 minutes remaining.

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26/28
Yohan Cabaye - 6

More composed than Verratti after replacing him but will be disappointed he was unable to help his side see out the tie.

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27/28
Javier Pastore - 5

The Argentinian was unable to produce another super-sub performance.

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28/28
Marquinhos - 5

Failed in his mission to shore up his side’s defence for the final five minutes.

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Schurrle, Hazard’s replacement in the 18th minute, had actually given Chelsea hope just past the half hour mark when he converted David Luiz’s flick on.

The crucial second they needed just wouldn’t come though and manager Jose Mourinho threw on Ba and Fernando Torres, plus changed to an overly aggressive 3-4-3- formation to turn the tide.

An away goal seemed inevitable, especially when £55m man Edinson Cavani broke away and yet he somehow shot over the bar. No wonder PSG coach Laurent Blanc looked to the heavens in anguish.

Just when Chelsea looked doomed and were going to rue the manner in which Javier Pastore netted in the final second in Paris, Ba saved the day.

He has barely had a kick since joining from Newcastle for £7m in January last year, but he was in the right place in the right time to convert Cesar Azpilcueta’s shot, which appeared to deflect off former Chelsea defender Alex, of all people, perfectly into his path.

The bench celebrated as one, but Mourinho wasn't with them. He was dashing down the touchline, just as he did 10 years ago at Old Trafford when his Porto side had scored an equally vital goal to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in the last 16.

That was the moment Mourinho always felt was key on the way to lifting the trophy for the first time in his career. Now, having also secured it with Inter Milan in 2010, he will believe an incredible hat-trick is possible.

No-one will want to face Chelsea in the next stage that’s for sure, not even former club Real Madrid.